Royal Anglian Regiment soldiers parade through Northampton

Soldiers from The Poachers parade through Northampton before laying up their Regimental Colour at Church of the Holy Sepulchre NNL-160730-162555009

Published:10:36Monday 01 August 2016

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Crowds watched as soldiers paraded through the centre of Northampton on Saturday.

Around 100 soldiers from C (Northamptonshire and Rutland) Company of the 2nd Battalion – known as The Poachers – of the Royal Anglian Regiment marched from Angel Street to All Saints Church at lunchtime accompanied by the Band of the Irish Guards.

Soldiers from The Poachers parade through Northampton before laying up their Regimental Colour at Church of the Holy Sepulchre NNL-160730-162723009

They halted at All Saints’ Church where the soldiers were inspected by the Mayor of Northampton Christopher Malpas.

Following the inspection, the parade continued to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a thanksgiving service and the laying to rest of the Regimental Colour.

When new Colours are presented, the old ones are not destroyed but ‘laid up’ in a regimental museum, church, or other military building with significance to the particular unit.

The Holy Sepulchre is the Armed Forces Church for Northamptonshire.

Soldiers from The Poachers parade through Northampton before laying up their Regimental Colour at Church of the Holy Sepulchre NNL-160730-162805009

Major Ben Hawes, Officer Commanding (Northamptonshire and Rutland) Company, said: “We have a great relationship with Northampton and it was wonderful to see and feel the support of the local community as we marched through the town.

“It was also a pleasure to see many veteran soldiers and their families join us to lay our old Regimental Colour to rest.

Soldiers from The Poachers parade through Northampton before laying up their Regimental Colour at Church of the Holy Sepulchre NNL-160730-162511009

Soldiers from The Poachers parade through Northampton before laying up their Regimental Colour at Church of the Holy Sepulchre NNL-160730-162610009

Soldiers from The Poachers parade through Northampton before laying up their Regimental Colour at Church of the Holy Sepulchre NNL-160730-162527009